SSS Benefits Available for their Members

Being a covered employee or employed members of the Social Security System (SSS) you are entitled for the package of benefits under Social Security and  Employees Compensation (EC). Self-employed and voluntary members are also entitled to the same benefits as employed members except for EC benefits which only available for members who is employed.

SSS is a social insurance for non government employees in the Philippines. In the event of death, disability, sickness, maternity, old age and unforeseen contingencies, SSS members can apply for salary loans or calamity loans.

Read Also: How to view SSS Contribution Online

Salary loan is a cash loan granted to an employed, currently- paying self-employed or voluntary member. It is intended to meet the member’s short-term credit needs. Calamity loan is granted to all the members residing in the affected area where the government declared a state of calamity.

For the SSS members who still don’t know what they can avail while they are under the Social Security Program, this is the list of SSS benefits that they can avail.

1. Sickness

The sickness benefit is a daily cash allowance paid for the number of days a member is unable to work due to sickness or injury. A member is qualified to avail sickness benefit if they are qualified in these qualifications.

• A member is unable to work due to sickness or injury and confined either in a hospital or at home for at least four (4) days;
• He/she has paid at least three (3) months of contributions within the 12-month period immediately before the semester of sickness or injury;
• He/she has used up all current company sick leaves with pay; and
• He/she has notified the employer regarding his sickness or injury by filing the sickness benefit application; if he/she is unemployed, voluntary or self-employed member, the sickness notification should be submitted directly to SSS.

2. Maternity

The maternity benefit is a daily cash allowance granted to a female member who was unable to work due to childbirth or miscarriage. A member is qualified to avail of this benefit if:

• She has paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage.
• She has given the required notification of her pregnancy to SSS through her employer if employed; or submitted the maternity notification directly to the SSS if separated from employment, a voluntary or self-employed member.

This benefit shall be paid only for the first four (4) deliveries or miscarriages starting May 24, 1997 when the Social Security Act of 1997 (RA 8282) took effect.

For detailed step-by-step instructions how to avail maternity benefits you can follow my previous post “How to reimburse SSS maternity benefits”

3. Disability

The redesigned SSS Disability Benefit program adopts the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes and takes into account the medical management of illnesses and injuries and their corresponding impairment ratings. A member who suffers partial or total disability with at least one monthly contribution paid to the SSS prior to the semester of contingency is qualified.

Partial Disability

A complete and permanent loss or use of any of the following body parts, but which does not totally prevent a member from engaging in any gainful occupation.

• one thumb
• one index finger
• one middle finger
• one ring finger
• one little finger
• hearing of one ear
• hearing of both ears
• sight of one eye
• one big toe
• one hand
• one arm
• one foot
• one leg
• one ear
• both ears

Permanent Total Disability

• complete loss of sight of both eyes;
• loss of two limbs at or above the ankle or wrists;
• permanent complete paralysis of two limbs;
• brain injury resulting to incurable imbecility or insanity; and
• such cases as determined and approved by the SSS.

4. Retirement

The retirement benefit is a cash benefit either in monthly pension or lump sum paid to a member who can no longer work due to old age. A member is qualified to avail of this benefit if:

a. Member is 60 years old, separated from employment or ceased to be self-employed, and has paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.

b. Member is 65 years old, whether employed or not, and has paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.

c. Underground Mineworkers:

• Aged 55 years old and is an underground mineworker for at least 5 years (either continuous or accumulated) prior to the semester of retirement but whose actual date of retirement is not earlier than March 13, 1998; separated from employment or has ceased self-employment; and has paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.
• Aged 60 years old, whether employed or not, and has paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.

5. Death

It is a cash benefit either in monthly pension or lump sum paid to the beneficiaries of a deceased member. The primary beneficiaries are the legitimate dependent spouse until the person remarries, and the member’s dependent legitimate, legitimated, or legally adopted, and illegitimate children who are not yet 21 years old. In the absence of primary beneficiaries, the dependent parents shall be the secondary beneficiaries. In their absence, any other person designated by the member as beneficiary in the member’s record.

There are two types of death benefit paid to beneficiaries of a member, Pension and Lumpsum Amount. To qualify for either, the member must have met the following:

• For Pension – the deceased member must have paid at least 36 monthly contributions before the semester of death.
• For Lumpsum Amount –  granted to the primary beneficiaries of a deceased member who had paid less than 36 monthly contributions before the semester of death. Also, in the absence of primary beneficiaries, the secondary beneficaries are granted the death benefit in lumpsum amount.

6. Funeral

It is a cash benefit given to whoever pays the burial expenses of the deceased member or pensioner.

For self-employed/ non-working spouse/ OFW members – the deceased SSS member must have paid at least one (1) monthly contribution, for his/her beneficiaries to be entitled to the funeral benefit.

For employed members and those separated from employment – the deceased must be reported for coverage by his/her employer, even if no contribution was paid, for his/her beneficiaries to be entitled to the funeral benefit.

Read: How to file SSS death benefits

Source: SSS

This article first published at efrennolasco.com